Configuring offline electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) via 2-factor authentication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12445436-B2
Application number	US-202318151299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2023
Priority date	Jan 6, 2023
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for 2-factor authentication of an offline Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) are provided. One system comprises a data input apparatus for entering a qualifying identification of an installer and for entering an authorizing signal by the installer to login into an application that shows the EVSE that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE. The login to initiate a power cycle of the EVSE which is a first-factor authentication and puts the EVSE in a configuration mode. The system further comprises an authorization computer connected to the data input apparatus for establishing an authorization signal and for verifying a received authorization signal for a user to connect the EVSE to Internet which puts the EVSE in a connected mode. The user rights of the user are cheeked as a second-factor authentication by a Charger configuration tool or a charger application or a configuration software.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for authorizing access to an offline Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) via 2-factor authentication for an EVSE configuration, the method comprising:
entering a qualifying identification of an installer and entering an authorizing signal by the installer to login into an application that shows the EVSE that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE,
wherein the login is configured to initiate a power cycle of the EVSE in that the EVSE is to be rebooted,
wherein the power cycle in itself is a first-factor authentication,
wherein the power cycle puts the EVSE in a configuration mode; and
connecting an authorization computer connected through a first transmission path for establishing an authorization signal and for verifying a received authorization signal for a user to connect the EVSE to Internet which puts the EVSE in a connected mode, and
checking user rights of the user as a second-factor authentication by a charger configuration tool or a charger application (APP) or a configuration software.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
performing a local configuration of networking information parameters and functional and safety information parameters based on the 2-factor authentication of a person configuring the EVSE.

3. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the functional and safety information parameters include: an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) server address, a Cloud server address, an Authentication mode (authenticated vs free), a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) allow list, a maximum current (future), and a Bluetooth® allow list.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the EVSE is without network connectivity and is deployed in a location without network connectivity.

5. A method for authorizing access to an offline Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) via 2-factor authentication for an EVSE configuration, the method comprising:
entering a qualifying identification of an installer and entering an authorizing signal by the installer to login into an application that shows the EVSE that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE,
wherein the login is configured to initiate a power cycle of the EVSE in that the EVSE is to be rebooted,
wherein the power cycle in itself is a first-factor authentication, and
wherein the power cycle puts the EVSE in a configuration mode; and
reading, by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, a RFID code number from a master RFID card as a second-factor authentication in order to authorize configuration of the EVSE, wherein the master RFID card is assigned to the EVSE during manufacturing and serves as a proof that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE.

6. The method of claim 5 ,
performing a local configuration of networking information parameters and functional and safety information parameters based on the 2-factor authentication of a person configuring the EVSE.

7. The method of claim 6 ,
wherein the functional and safety information parameters include: an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) server address, a Cloud server address, an Authentication mode (authenticated vs free), a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) allow list, a maximum current (future), and a Bluetooth® allow list.

8. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the EVSE is without network connectivity and is deployed in a location without network connectivity.

9. A method for authorizing access to an offline Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) via 2-factor authentication for an EVSE configuration, the method comprising:
entering a qualifying identification of an installer and entering an authorizing signal by the installer to login into an application that shows the EVSE that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE,
wherein the login is configured to initiate a power cycle of the EVSE in that the EVSE is to be rebooted,
wherein the power cycle in itself is a first-factor authentication, and
wherein the power cycle puts the EVSE in a configuration mode; and
connecting an authorization computer through a first transmission path, wherein the authorization computer includes a charger configuration tool for configuration of the EVSE such that the authorization computer is identified by a Wi-Fi® device Mac address or a Bluetooth® device Mac address as a second-factor authentication, or
connecting a mobile device connected through a second transmission path, wherein the authorization computer includes a charger application (APP) for configuration of the EVSE such that the mobile device is identified by a Wi-Fi® device Mac address or a Bluetooth® device Mac address as a second-factor authentication.

10. The method of claim 9 ,
performing a local configuration of networking information parameters and functional and safety information parameters based on the 2-factor authentication of a person configuring the EVSE.

11. The method of claim 10 ,
wherein the functional and safety information parameters include: an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) server address, a Cloud server address, an Authentication mode (authenticated vs free), a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) allow list, a maximum current (future), and a Bluetooth® allow list.

12. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the EVSE is without network connectivity and is deployed in a location without network connectivity.

13. A method for authorizing access to an offline Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) via 2-factor authentication for an EVSE configuration, the method comprising:
entering a qualifying identification of an installer and entering an authorizing signal by the installer to login into an application that shows the EVSE that the installer is authorized to configure the EVSE,
wherein the login is configured to initiate a power cycle of the EVSE in that the EVSE is to be rebooted,
wherein the power cycle in itself is a first-factor authentication, and
wherein the power cycle puts the EVSE in a configuration mode;
reading, by a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, a RFID code number from a master RFID card as a second-factor authentication in order to authorize configuration of the EVSE, wherein the master RFID card is assigned to the EVSE during manufacturing and serves as a proof that the installer configuring the EVSE is authorized to do so; and
connecting an authorization computer through a first transmission, wherein the authorization computer includes a charger configuration tool for configuration of the EVSE such that the authorization computer is identified by a Wi-Fi® device Mac address or a Bluetooth® device Mac address as the second-factor authentication, or
connecting a mobile device through a second transmission path, wherein the authorization computer includes a charger application (APP) for configuration of the EVSE such that the mobile device is identified by a Wi-Fi® device Mac address or a Bluetooth® device Mac address as the second-factor authentication.

14. The method of claim 13 ,
performing a local configuration of networking information parameters and functional and safety information parameters based on the 2-factor authentication of a person configuring the EVSE.

15. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the functional and safety information parameters include: an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) server address, a Cloud server address, an Authentication mode (authenticated vs free), a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) allow list, a maximum current (future), and a Bluetooth® allow list.

16. The method of claim 13 ,
wherein the EVSE is without network connectivity and is deployed in a

Assignees

• Siemens Industry Inc

Inventors

• Feldman Daniel

Classifications

• H04L63/0876

  based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint · CPC title

• H04L63/0853 Primary

  using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234) · CPC title

• B60L53/65 Primary

  involving identification of vehicles or their battery types · CPC title